2012 Epcot Food and Wine Festival *HAS ENDED*

[That'sNotVeryMagical]

Can anyone tell me about using a concert wristband that used the wristband to go to the concert? You can PM me if you'd like!

 

[Flower13]

I would like to know more about the concert wristbands too. Are they good seats? Or would it be better to wait in line for the "good" seats?

 

[Mad Hattered]

I am more interested in the special viewing area for Illuminations. Has anyone at all done either the concert or Illuminations sections??

 

[raraavis]

Can anyone tell me about using a concert wristband that used the wristband to go to the concert? You can PM me if you'd like!

I would like to know more about the concert wristbands too. Are they good seats? Or would it be better to wait in line for the "good" seats?

on another thread (chase lounge thread), i asked the same question. someone responded that they got wristbands for the 5:30 concert, and they were the first people in the chase lounge at 9am. they said the seats were in the first couple of rows towards the left of the stage under the covered area.

 

[Kteacher]

we got wristbands for both one day. We arrived at the Chase lounge a little after 9 a.m. we were given a map with instructions on where preferred viewing was for illuminations as well as when to arrive ( 1/2 hour prior) for entrance to Illuminations viewing area and the reserved concert seating. Illuminations viewing area is between the two gift shops at the entrance to WS-we arrived @ 8:30 for 9:00 Illuminations. The view is great . We were told they have tweaked the reserved seating for the concerts a few times. We had wristbands for 6:45 concert, and arrived @ 6:15. There are currently three rows of seats roped off on the left side for Chase. They are right outside of the covered section. We were allowed in to the venue about 15 minutes prior to general admission with strict instructions that we could only sit in the reserved seating area. If we wanted different seats we would have to wait in the general admission line ( for Boyz II Men this line started forming about two hours prior).
I thought it was a nice perk. The lounge was crowded every time we stopped by. There is one station to charge phones, which I thought was pretty useless-the cords were short, so it was difficult for more than one person to use it at a time.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

we got wristbands for both one day. We arrived at the Chase lounge a little after 9 a.m. we were given a map with instructions on where preferred viewing was for illuminations as well as when to arrive ( 1/2 hour prior) for entrance to Illuminations viewing area and the reserved concert seating. Illuminations viewing area is between the two gift shops at the entrance to WS-we arrived @ 8:30 for 9:00 Illuminations. The view is great . We were told they have tweaked the reserved seating for the concerts a few times. We had wristbands for 6:45 concert, and arrived @ 6:15. There are currently three rows of seats roped off on the left side for Chase. They are right outside of the covered section. We were allowed in to the venue about 15 minutes prior to general admission with strict instructions that we could only sit in the reserved seating area. If we wanted different seats we would have to wait in the general admission line ( for Boyz II Men this line started forming about two hours prior).
I thought it was a nice perk. The lounge was crowded every time we stopped by. There is one station to charge phones, which I thought was pretty useless-the cords were short, so it was difficult for more than one person to use it at a time.

Actually for the FIRST Boyz II Men concert there were two people in line at 11 AM, yes folks 11 AM, they spent ALL day in that line!

 

[smile4stamps]

Actually for the FIRST Boyz II Men concert there were two people in line at 11 AM, yes folks 11 AM, they spent ALL day in that line!

THAT IS CRAZY!! I guess if you are local and nothing better to do...

 

[That'sNotVeryMagical]

There are currently three rows of seats roped off on the left side for Chase. They are right outside of the covered section.

So the reserved concert seats are in the middle of the pavillion, with lots of rows between them and the front? The covered section is the seats closest to the stage, correct?

 

[PSU]

Thanks all who have posted reviews/tips for this year - 1 more week left for us...can't wait

 

[TeresaWen]

I am so many days until I come down...please post more reviews on the Food and Wine activities!!! How were the booths this weekend? How was the party last night?

 

[MMluvsWDW]

Has anyone used any of the iPhone Apps for food and wine? The disney one was horrible.
We used Epcot Food & Wine Festival 2012 Guide and it had reviews, maps, and all the events.
We liked it any other feedback from anyone else?

 

[FUNROVER]

We are arriving at BWI around 4 PM and would like to spend our first night enjoying the last night of the Food and Wine festival. Can anyone give us an idea of what to expect crowd and food wise? I'm wondering if it will be busier because it's the last night and if they will be out of the wonderful food and beverages I've been seeing. Just looking for an overall review of the last night from those who know. Thanks in advance to all of you!!

 

[Tess]

Has anyone used any of the iPhone Apps for food and wine? The disney one was horrible.
We used Epcot Food & Wine Festival 2012 Guide and it had reviews, maps, and all the events.
We liked it any other feedback from anyone else?

I have to agree, the Disney App stunk it up. I found Undercover Tourist's App to be much more useful for wait times, park hours, etc. I also found Disney's WiFi to be less than useful.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

A couple of quick notes.

This past weekend I did both the Swan/Dolphin Food & Wine Classic and the Party For the Senses. I don't think I would do them both on the same weekend again. It was a LOT of wine.

Food & Wine Classic thoughts. Good event, LOTS of wine not enough food IMHO. There were LONG lines for the food. Event has lots of tables but if you want to sit get there early with your group and 'grab' a good table and then defend it. Luckily the standing tables weren't "hogged" One of my favorite moments was when the woman in front of me in the line for the GREAT hamburgers from Fresh was told "no you can't have two" in response to her "I need another for my husband who is holding our table" Deserts were a disappointment, just not very good IMHO but everything else was nice. If I were here at the right time I would go again, but would not plan my trip around this. And if the "Drunks" at Epcot get to you I would avoid this after about 8. There was a LOT of wine/beer at this event and not much food, by 8 to 8:30 a lot of people were feeling no pain!

PFTS-I splurged and went with the Wine View lounge. Was it worth it from a purely "dining" sense? Probably not, I didn't think the wines were dramatically better and while the cheese was better it was not that much better, but.... I would do it again! The whole experience was just SO much nicer then I remembered from prior parties. I got there about 7 and they were already seating Wine View. At about 7:10 or so they opened the floor for us. At 7:15 they started seating Reserved so you had a few minutes just to get your bearings and about 20 minutes before the "stampede" And I call it that for a reason My table was right on the edge of lounge towards the stage, there was a 'walkway", then the reserved seating and then the stage. At 7:30 what one woman described as the "running of the bulls" began. They opened the main doors and people were racing to grab the tables. I literally saw some folks break into a trot....There are lots of tables but the "grab and hold" means that a solo like me would not have been able to sit down for the entire party due to the grab and hold that occurs. The "running of the tables" was a great show, but I was glad I didn't have to play!

Throughout the party I had GREAT service. My water glass never got below half full, the dirty plates were wisked away, clean silver wear provided etc... The servers would bring you drinks from the bar in the lounge, but I got my own so I could make my own decisions It was REALLY a great experience and I loved it so much more then the "stand up for 3 hours" experience I had last time! I know the gratuity was included but I did give my waitperson a little extra. SHe was just great!

Food at my party was very good. Only real miss was a pasta dish. Just GROSS. My waitress in the Lounge asked me "is this bad, I keep taking full plates of it back" Yeah, it was bad! Lines for the food were never long and moved quickly. I had been a little concerned when I saw I had lots of "Disney chefs" (like CRT< YUCK!) but I should not have been. If they actually served food like that at CRT it would be worth it The chefs were very creative and food was great!

People have asked about dress codes. It ranged a LOT. In the Wine View area most folks were dressed pretty nicely. Saw some cocktail dresses. I had on pants and "sparkly" sweater and felt I was dressed fine. Men had on long pants and collar shirts. In the reserved area it seemed to be a lot of what I would refer to as business casual. In the general area it was 'anything goes' LOTS more park attire then I recalled and LOTS more kids. I was amazed at the number of kids there, LITTLE kids that folks paid over $100 for them to come (and they looked BORED!)

The entertainment was good. My only WIne View complaint was that it was hard to see the stage, but since a lot of the La Nouba is up high it really wasn't an issue until the last act which was more at stage level.

Booths on the weekend. I have learned. I avoid Epcot on Saturday. I did however head over about 10 AM to grab a Chase armband for the fireworks. And you could tell it was going to be PACKED. At 10:30 Canada and Ireland were open for business...... On the way to the PFTS the area between the International Gateway and the party was PACKED. (I have no idea if there were drunks, it was just PACKED!)

All in all I have had a good time at this Festival... time for the party to end and me to head home

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

And it is my lucky day. Went to Chase Lounge to get a firework wristband and since I had a Disney Visa a rep gave me a free ticket to one beverage and one culinary seminar today. .

 

[PNO4TE]

And it is my lucky day. Went to Chase Lounge to get a firework wristband and since I had a Disney Visa a rep gave me a free ticket to one beverage and one culinary seminar today. .

How nice! Enjoy.

 

[PNO4TE]

We returned last night from our 14th trip to the F&W Festival. We both felt that the crowds were much heavier all week. We normally try to stay out of the WS area on the weekends, but did scoot in last Sunday to grab a few favorites from Greece, Canada and Ireland. I am happy we had not intended to stay in there longer than that. It was wall-to-wall (not totally unexpected).

However, the rest of the week we found to also be pretty crowded unless we got there at 11:00 and got out around 1:30-2:00. That was a big change from years past.

As for the over drinking that has been reported: Yes, it was there. But it was also there at the resorts. So I think it is not an issue of the F&W Festival but possibly a change in people's drinking habits. Or, just possibly, all the heavy drinkers in the world showed up at WDW last week.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I am moving my trip to a later in Oct next year. I think the holiday weekend had a big increase in crowds. I know several school districts in GA and TN were off all or part of last week

 

[raraavis]

And it is my lucky day. Went to Chase Lounge to get a firework wristband and since I had a Disney Visa a rep gave me a free ticket to one beverage and one culinary seminar today. .

oooh, lucky!! what a great surprise! i hope i have the same luck!

 

[PNO4TE]

I am moving my trip to a later in Oct next year. I think the holiday weekend had a big increase in crowds. I know several school districts in GA and TN were off all or part of last week

We have decided to go later next year also.